While on the surface it appears that they are from two different sports worlds, Richmond Hill’s Carol Zhao and the CFL’s special teams Player of the Year, Chris Williams of the Hamilton Ticats, both share a common excitement leading up to the 100th Grey Cup Game Sunday.
Having recently accepted a full tennis scholarship to Stanford University in California, Zhao is also excited about the possibility of catching a National Football League game in person.
While her team of choice is the Dallas Cowboys of the NFL, the 17-year-old rising tennis star admits that she is intrigued by the buzz surrounding the Canadian Football League’s 100th Grey Cup this weekend.
“For sure, all this exposure can only help grow the sport,” she said. “I’ve never been to a CFL game but I’d love to go to one in the future.”
For his part, the media hype surrounding this year’s Grey Cup game presents an important opportunity for the Canadian league to showcase the game to non-CFL football fans like Zhao.
“Obviously, it’s important because it gives the game more exposure and allows fans to put faces to the names,” said the 25-year-old American, a native of New Mexico.
“Anyone who would actually take the time to watch the game can see that it’s very exciting and entertaining,” added Williams. “I would ask anyone to just watch the game and you will see what I mean.”
Football fans can watch the sold-out 100th Grey Cup game on TSN starting at 6 p.m. Sunday.David Li is a Thornhill freelance writer.